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Just an hour from Paris, this incredible 16th-century château floats on the water!

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The Editor

© Val-de-Marne Tourisme et Loisirs

The Île-de-France is full of little gems, and our only passion is sharing them with you. This time, we’re taking you to Val-de-Marne, less than an hour from Paris, to discover the Château d'Ormesson, a splendid building that looks as if it's floating on the water.

Imagine a castle seemingly floating on a river, like something out of a dream or a Disney movie scene. Welcome to the Château d'Ormesson, an iconic monument of the Val-de-Marne, that captures the eyes and curiosity of all. Proudly standing on its grounds since the 16th century, this historical gem has weathered the ages and transformations to become today a destination at the crossroads of heritage and entertainment.


Temple of Literature

Alright, let’s start by stating the obvious, but the connection between the Château d'Ormesson and literature is pretty clear. Indeed, the monument was for a few years the property of Jean d'Ormesson, a great French writer of the 20th century and heir of the Lefèvre d'Ormesson family, who have owned the castle since the 17th century.

e. But its connection to literature actually goes back much further, since authors, parliamentarians, diplomats and academics have inhabited these places. For example, we can mention Diderot, Madame de Sévigné or even Count Wladimir d'Ormesson, a journalist and Ambassador to the Holy See. So, we have 5 centuries of history that are inscribed within the walls of this castle with its extraordinary aesthetic.


An Original Architecture

This castle, made entirely of stone and brick, was envisioned and built in the 16th century by the architect Louis Picot. It originally has a square plan and 4 towers. Later, in 1760, the building was expanded by architect Antoine Matthieu Le Carpentier at the request of the d'Ormesson family. While the appearance of the castle is quite classic, it stands out thanks to the presence of a vast body of water that stretches at its feet, giving the impression that the building floats between sky and earth, much like one of the magical homes from the world of Miyazaki.

We just want to give you a heads-up: getting the chance to discover a place like this is truly special, and since the castle is still a private residence, it’s only open to the public a few days a year. If this year we missed the European Days of Crafts that take place around late March/early April, we can still look forward to the Ormesson fair in June, or the European Heritage Days in September! And trust us, the wait is definitely worth it.

Address: 1 Av. du Général de Gaulle, 94490 Ormesson-sur-Marne, France